USA science teacher gets students involved in robotics

Published 4:04 pm, Friday, March 17, 2017

SEBEWAING — An academic program in the Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District geared toward the future is a learning experience for both students and the teacher.

Jason Beagle, who has been a science and math teacher with the district for 18 years, has only taught robotics for three years, and is still learning.

Principal Josh Hahn and former technology director Fred Sharpsteen approached Beagle about taking robotics from a club activity to an academic program. Although Beagle has a background in mechanics, it was a little daunting doing a robotics class.

"We work with FIRST, which has a lot of resources for new teachers of robotics and rookie techies so that helped a lot. It was a learning experience all the way around for all of us," he said. "I did a lot of reading and research to teach the program. I'm learning some things along with the students."

FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology."According to Beagle, the there are a lot of different aspects to the robotics class that most don't realize.

"The students can take the class just for a trimester. In that time, they can learn the basic concepts of coding (computer program language)," said Beagle. "Robotics builds on their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills."

Plus, there are a variety of non-related aspects of the program that do not directly involve robotics.

"Students who had different interests help with building a budget, getting donations, and fund raising," said Beagle, noting those aspects of the class are new for him as well. "This is our third year and we all, including myself, are learning more each year."

Robotics can be explained as a sport using the mind. It involves science, technology, engineering and math. As in any sport, building, programing and operating a robot involves team work.

"Some students are good at art, music, or sports, robotics is a class for students that are not interested in those programs or don't excel in them. With the different aspects robotics has to offer, there is something for every student," he said. "It's a class where I am always learning also along with the students."

Doing robotics is as close to real-world engineering as a student can get.

In the robotics class and competition, students can learn from professional engineers, use STEM skills, learn computer software and hardware, marketing, and advertising, and use power tools, explained to Beagle.

"I learn those aspects of the class along with them," he added.

USA's robotics team is called "Team Robotica." In 2015, they were rookies competing in their first competition.

Students build and compete with a robot of their own design. In doing that, they learn teamwork and develop interpersonal and communication skills.

The key aspect of the class is building a robot and entering it in competition. Each year there is a different challenge on what the robot is supposed to do during competition.

"Challenges this year was for the robot to climb a rope ... and put a gear on a peg," Beagle said. "During the competition, points are scored by how well the robot performs the tasked outlined for the competition."

USA's Team Robotica competed at Kettering University earlier this month.

"We didn't do very well. Our robot had a short in it. A wire was touching the frame so it didn't work right and we lost points," said Beagle. "Out of the 40 teams that competed, we were like 31st or 32nd. Mistakes are a learning experience as well ... for students and me also."

Competition gives junior techies and engineers a chance to explore and invent in a setting where being considered a "nerd" is an honor.